The Johnson Amendment refers to a change in the U.S. tax code made in 1954 which prohibited tax-exempt organizations from endorsing or opposing political candidates.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Johnson_Amendment
Tonight Donald Trump laid out his intention to repeal this amendment. I believe that to be a huge mistake.
Repealing this amendment would make the church the most powerful political group in the Country.
The church would be able to endorse a party, actively persuade their clergy, and redirect tithe money to politics.
You'd soon see such terrible scenarios as churches requiring you register a certain way to be considered Christian and money laundering.
I realize that some overzealous church leaders think this sounds great. But the end result will be to cause separation, division, and push the Left clergy away.
The church will become smaller and in the long term, weaker.
I think Mr. Trump, being born of the pragmatism that allows businessmen to succeed, will say whatever he needs to in order to win.https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Johnson_Amendment
Tonight Donald Trump laid out his intention to repeal this amendment. I believe that to be a huge mistake.
Repealing this amendment would make the church the most powerful political group in the Country.
The church would be able to endorse a party, actively persuade their clergy, and redirect tithe money to politics.
You'd soon see such terrible scenarios as churches requiring you register a certain way to be considered Christian and money laundering.
I realize that some overzealous church leaders think this sounds great. But the end result will be to cause separation, division, and push the Left clergy away.
The church will become smaller and in the long term, weaker.
I think Mr. Trump, being born of the pragmatism that allows businessmen to succeed, will say whatever he needs to in order to win.
That's why he said he'd repeal it tonight - but I strongly believe it should not be done!
And you've said the rest of what I didn't say!You summed up the essence of his bullet proof armor.
Every Republican I talk to out in the world always tells me "I realize he said that but he is not really gonna do that. He Is just trying to get elected."
But what I am seeing is "both" sides of an issue use this reasoning.
White supremacy folks think Trump is merely faking when he said he is color blind while non-racists think Trump doesn't mean all of the racist and bigoted things he has said.
Well what if he really does mean the things you think he didn't mean?
What if he didn't mean any of the things important to you?
And what if he doesn't even know wtf he means and he's just talking sound bytes to stimulate crowds. What if he is an unpredictable egomaniac?
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Johnson_Amendment
Tonight Donald Trump laid out his intention to repeal this amendment. I believe that to be a huge mistake.
Repealing this amendment would make the church the most powerful political group in the Country.
The church would be able to endorse a party, actively persuade their clergy, and redirect tithe money to politics.
You'd soon see such terrible scenarios as churches requiring you register a certain way to be considered Christian and money laundering.
I realize that some overzealous church leaders think this sounds great. But the end result will be to cause separation, division, and push the Left clergy away.
The church will become smaller and in the long term, weaker.
I think Mr. Trump, being born of the pragmatism that allows businessmen to succeed, will say whatever he needs to in order to win.
That's why he said he'd repeal it tonight - but I strongly believe it should not be done!
Are you kidding me? Hillary is the one who will say whatever she needs to in order to win. She panders to absolutely anything she can pander to, from the poor all the way up to Wall Street! She leaves no stone unturned.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Johnson_Amendment
Tonight Donald Trump laid out his intention to repeal this amendment. I believe that to be a huge mistake.
Repealing this amendment would make the church the most powerful political group in the Country.
The church would be able to endorse a party, actively persuade their clergy, and redirect tithe money to politics.
You'd soon see such terrible scenarios as churches requiring you register a certain way to be considered Christian and money laundering.
I realize that some overzealous church leaders think this sounds great. But the end result will be to cause separation, division, and push the Left clergy away.
The church will become smaller and in the long term, weaker.
The OP is polling a very specific platform item of Donald Trump (Repeal the Johnson Amendment), and I responded directly, specifically, and on-topic accordingly.Are you kidding me? Hillary is the one who will say whatever she needs to in order to win. She panders to absolutely anything she can pander to, from the poor all the way up to Wall Street! She leaves no stone unturned.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Johnson_Amendment
Tonight Donald Trump laid out his intention to repeal this amendment. I believe that to be a huge mistake.
Repealing this amendment would make the church the most powerful political group in the Country.
The church would be able to endorse a party, actively persuade their clergy, and redirect tithe money to politics.
You'd soon see such terrible scenarios as churches requiring you register a certain way to be considered Christian and money laundering.
I realize that some overzealous church leaders think this sounds great. But the end result will be to cause separation, division, and push the Left clergy away.
The church will become smaller and in the long term, weaker.
I would think that it was up to the churches to destroy themselves or not. And it does not seem to me any real problem, that the church spend its money on politics. After all, the money belongs to citizens that would be using it to help the expression of their opinions. But I also do not think that it would change much, because I doubt the church would want to get openly involved.
This is not about free speech or allowing churches to become political organizations.
This is about their tax free status.
Currently, a church gets a tax free exemption so long as they are not involved in politics or distributing proffit.
Removing this Amendment would allow a church to be used as a cover for pretty much anything and just never pay tax so long as all of the profits went to politicians.
The amendment is not even relevant to free speech. It is about taxation.
Here is a good way to put it into perspective...
Super Pacs and Churches would become the same thing as far as their actual function is concerned. And while you and I pay plenty of tax, these entities would never pay tax again.
There are way, way, WAY too many laws.
Anyone or anything should be able to give any amount of money they wish to any candidate or endorse any candidate they wish.
Political contributions mean almost nothing today.
Look at Sanders and Trump...they spent tiny fractions what many other candidates spend and the former almost won their party's nomination and the latter did.
Maybe long ago money mattered in politics. Today it barely makes a difference.
And anyone that would vote for a politician strictly because an organization endorsed that politician is so politically ignorant that they are not worth worrying about.
Over 90% of non-presidential elections are won by the candidate who spends the most money. Presidential elections are an anomaly due to all the free press involved.
This is not about free speech or allowing churches to become political organizations.
This is about their tax free status.
Currently, a church gets a tax free exemption so long as they are not involved in politics or distributing proffit.
Removing this Amendment would allow a church to be used as a cover for pretty much anything and just never pay tax so long as all of the profits went to politicians.
The amendment is not even relevant to free speech. It is about taxation.
Here is a good way to put it into perspective...
Super Pacs and Churches would become the same thing as far as their actual function is concerned. And while you and I pay plenty of tax, these entities would never pay tax again.
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